Pat O’Brien Handicap : Bold Brawley Doesn’t Wilt in Stretch, Sets a Del Mar Record

Bold Brawley went wire-to-wire to win the inaugural running of the Pat O’Brien Handicap at Del Mar Saturday. The 3-year-old colt, a 6-5 favorite, covered seven furlongs in 1:20 2/5, breaking the track record of 1:21 set by Somethingwonderful last year.

First Norman was second, 1 3/4 lengths back, and American Legion, who beat Bold Brawley in the six-furlong Bing Crosby Handicap here Aug. 16, finished third in the field of five.

“In the Bing Crosby, he was pressured for the first time and he wasn’t used to it,” said Ron Ellis, Bold Brawley’s trainer. “He ran well physically that day, but he didn’t run that well mentally.”

Bothered by pressure early in the Bing Crosby, Bold Brawley wilted under the closing rush of American Legion and finished second. This happened after he had won his first three races of the year by seven, nine, and four lengths.

Saturday, in the Pat O’Brien, a race named after the late actor who along with Bing Crosby founded the track in 1937, Bold Brawley was pressured for the first five furlongs, this time by Perfec Travel. American Legion, meanwhile, was third, a length back.

“But my horse was up to the pressure this time,” Ellis said.

At the top of the stretch, jockey Pat Valenzuela let loose and Bold Brawley strode out, leaving American Legion behind.

“Ron (Ellis) told me not to get too far in front with him,” Valenzuela said. “We got a head in front and decided to keep it right there. When we turned for home, he turned it on.”

Bold Brawley paid $4.60, $4.00 and $2.60. First Norman returned $6.40 and $3.20, while American Legion paid $2.40 to show.

With another victory, Ellis said he is now pointing Bold Brawley to the Breeders’ Cup sprint Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

“We’ll try and run him once or twice before then,” Ellis said. “As long as he keeps running like this, it will be a good move.”

Del Mar Notes Eight 2-year-old fillies will head to post today for the 36th running of the $200,000 Del Mar Debutante. Brave Raj, the winner of the Sorrento Stakes here, and Soft Copy, a two-time stakes winner in Washington, figure to be among the favorites in the 1-mile. race. . . . Del Mar will handle wagering on today’s Arlington Million. The race will be shown live (2:35 p.m.) and payoffs will be handled through a separate pool at Del Mar. Pat Valenzuela (aboard Al Mamoon), Laffit Pincy Jr. (Alphabatim), Fernando Toro (Estrapade), Chris McCarron (Maysoon), Gary Stevens (Palace Music) and Eddie Delahoussaye (Zoffany) will all be at Arlington Park today instead of Del Mar. . . . Vernon Castle, winner of the La Jolla Mile and the Del Mar Derby this month, is expected to go off as the favorite in the 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap on the turf Monday. Vernon Castle, to be ridden by Delahoussaye, will race as part of an Allen Paulson-owned entry with Schulich and Louis Le Grand. . . . In the ninth race Saturday, 70-1 longshot Sans Rival beat 25-1 pick Hail The Bid by 1 1/2 lengths, and the two combined for the largest exacta payoff of the meeting. The $5 exacta ticket was worth $6,960.50. That didn’t break the all-time mark of $8,444 set in 1971. . . . Saturday’s handle was $5,155,621, the second highest total in track history. The record of $5,292,192 was set in 1985.